Observing and caring for a wound drain (Redon)

Observing the drainage fluid, securing suction and position, caring for the exit site and recognising warning signs of secondary bleeding.

Content created with AI assistance from public clinical sources (RKI, AWMF) – may contain mistakes; if in doubt, your textbook is right

Translated from the German original, which is authoritative. The exam itself is in German.

Material

• Sterile swabs or dressing for the exit site, fixation material
• Disposable gloves, hand disinfectant, sterile gloves if needed
• New drainage bottle as per local standard, documentation sheet

Typical mistakes in the exam

• Only noting the drainage volume but not assessing it
• Overlooking a drain without suction or a kinked drain
• Changing the bottle without clamping

What examiners ask afterwards

• At what point is the drainage volume alarming, and what do you do?
• How do you recognise that the drain no longer has suction?
• Who decides when the drain is removed?

Sources

• KRINKO: Prävention postoperativer Wundinfektionen (RKI)